Floor furnace



Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES l IP-A'rlzNi- OFFICE FLoon. FUaNAcE nmy c. maxe, ssn mm1, cani. Application Aumt zo, 193s, serial No. 227,313 -s claims. (ci. 126mm) The invention relates to air circulating heaters and more particularly to that type of heater commonly referred to as a floor furnace. v

An object of the present invention is to provide a oor furnace of the character described utilizing an oilburner wherein all the means of control for the burner are brought'to the top of the unit and made readily accessible at the floor level of the furnace.V

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor furnace of the character above having an improved ignitin'g means and an improved eontrol of oil flow to the burner for rendering the furnace easier and safer to use than similar types l5 of constructionheretofore.

'A further object of the invention is to provide a floor, furnace of the character described having a compact and eiiicient arrangement of parts and air passages to circulate an abundant `quan- 2 tity of heated air and wherein the air circulated Ais drawn from the 'coldest stratawithin the room being heated, that is, adjacent the oor.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which,'with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and` furnace constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the furnace taken substantially on the plane of line 2--2 of Figure l.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of part of the top grill and ignition member. Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a part of the top grill and a safety con- `trol member. I

Figure 5 is a fragmentary verticalsectional view of part of the topgrill and a portion of the oil flow control member.

Figure 6 is a verticalsectional view of an oil ilow control unit used in, the present furnace.

The floor furnace of the present invention and as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing consists briefly of a plurality of inner and outer casings providing a combustion or heater chamber and surrounding air passages for l circulating l u air in thermal contact with the heater casing, an

oil burner mounted under and adapted to heat the heater casing, means for automatically and manually controlling the oil flow to the oil burner and a plurality of controls therefor arranged accessible at the top of the unit, the whole being designed and constructed as a single integrally and' constructed ina manner making the same 5 formed heating plant ready for immediate in-I stallation in a suitably formed opening in a floor or the like. A

l With the reference more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the unit comprises an inner centrally disposed, closed top, casing' I I which provides-a combustion chamber for anv oil burner I2 mounted directly under the bottom-wall I3 of the casing II, and which is provided with a burner throat Il extended through an opening I6 in the bottom wall I3 to discharge the heated burning products from the burner into the combustion chamber. The casing II is provided with a discharge outlet conduit Il extending laterally from adjacent the bottom thereof for. conveying the spent products to a iiue. The oil burner here used consists of an elongated carburetor casing I8 formed with the discharge throat Il and one end thereof extending laterally therefrom tov provide a carburation or hydroxyiation chamber for oil vaporized within the casing and primary'fair admitted to the casing. Oil or other liquid fuel is introduced into the casing'i from an end 30 I9 opposite'to the burner throat I4, and in the form of the burner here illustrated, the liquid 'fuel gravitates over the bottom of the burner towards the discharge throat and in so moving vaporizes and is mixed with a quantity of air admitted through suitablenopenings in the casing, and the oil vapor andv air mixture is discharged through the throat Il where the mixture is engaged -by a supply of secondary" air to' support combustion either in or above the throat. g l

To provide a most' eiiicient circulation ofair around and in thermal contact with the casing Il I enclose this casing within an outer casing 2i to provide between the casings-connned air channels wherein the air is held in thermal contact with the heater casing and caused to rapidly rise through the furnace and into the room. Preferably a majority of 'the air circulated through thefurnace is withdrawn from the room being heated and to effect this result, I provide between the casings I'I and'li an intermediate vertical wall 22 which divides the ail' space between the inner and outer casings into a pair of vertical air passages 23 and 2l. As a result of- `this construction the air in the passage 2t adjacen-t the heater casing il is caused tol rise and produce a reduced pressure at the bottom thereof which is communicated with the bottom of 5 the passage 23 to thereby cause a downward ow of air in the passage By communicating the upper ends of both of the passages into the room, air will be withdrawn from the room into the passage 23 and discharged back; into the room l0 from the furnace by way of passage 24. Mounted over the casings li and 2l and secured to the latter casing and the intermediate wall 22 is a perforate plate or grill to which is adapted for mounting in a suitably formed opening in a door or the like. The grill 26 as here shown is formed of a plurality of rectangularly extending grill elements 2l which provide for the free cir- Y culation of air therethrough into and from the air passages of the furnace. As here shown, the top 280i the inner casing t l is spaced well below the grill 26 so as to define an air space 29 therebetween which is communicated with the upper ends of the inner passage 2d, This construction is desirable in order to maintain the grill at a relatively low and safe temperature by minimizing the direct radiation of heat from the heater casing to the grill and by circulating a large quantity of air through the grill.

As an important feature of the present furnace 30 I provide an improved means for igniting the oil 'or other fuel in the burner casing which is designed to safely and conveniently, and positively effect ignition of the fuel. As here shown, this means is embodiedin the form of an elongated igniting rod ti which is mounted through an opening 32 provided in the top 28 of the casing Il and extends vertically through the interior of the casing and the burner throat to position the lowe'r end 533 oi the rod within the burner casing adjacent the bottom thereof. The upper end 34 of the rod is extended above the top wall 28 of the casing to immediately under the grill 26 and the latter is provided with a small removable section 36 directly over the upper end 34 oi the rod for removal of the rod through the grill. The rod end 3% may as here shown be provided with a looped portion for ready manual engagement.

Any suitable ignition means may be provided at the lower end of the rod andas here shown, such 50. means is embodied in the form of a wick 3l which is removable with the rod for igniting outside of the unit and i'or replacement in burning i'orm into the burner casing for lgniting the oil there- /Preierably means is used to close the openin ing I2 in order to seal off theproducts of combustion in the casing i I, and as here shown, such means is embodied in the form of s. closure 38 mounted on` the rod for engagement with the side walls of the opening. Preferably, to improve the lseal .ci the closure in'the opening, the periphery of the closure and the side wall ofA the opening are tapered downwardly so as to provide a'wedged engagement between the closure and j V the sides o!l the opening. In the present conthe rod slightly above the bottom of the burner casing. i

The oil flow control means of the present construction is of an automatic and manual control type and is so arranged that the operating con- 5 trols therefor may be positioned at the upper end of the unit as aforementioned for ready adjustment at the iloor level of the room. As here shown, the control means is embodied in a valve casing 39 having oil inlet and discharge passages 10 4l and 42 which communicate with an interior chamber 45 of the casing. The discharge passage 42 of the casing is connected by means oi a conduit 43 with an oil inlet fitting M at the end i9 of the burner casing. Mounted in a porl5 tion 4B of the discharge passage 42 is a manually controlled valve 41 for controlling the ow of oil to theburner and asA will be seen from Figure 6, the valve consists of a vertically mounted tubular member 48 having side openings i9 opening into 20 the chamber and a slot 5l at its lower end which cooperateswith such end and an adjacent end and slotted portion in the passage portion 46 to regulate the oil ilow in accordance with the rotated and longitudinal position of the valve mem- 25 ber. In the present unit this member is extended vertically through the cover 52 of the casing and is supported on a circuxnierentially inclined surface 53 in the cover for causing a longitudinal displacement of the valve member incident to 30 a rotational displacement thereof. A control member M extending vertically from the valve casing is secured at its lower end 56 to the upper end of the valve member and is journaled at its upper end S0 in a socket 5l provided in the grill. 35 As here shown, the end Eo of the member o@ is preferably formed of a non-circular cross section for engagement in` and turning by a key 5d which may be insertedinto the socket 5l about. the member end 5B. 0'

Also embodied in the valve casing is an automatic means for maintaining a constant oillevel in the casing during discharge oi.' oil to the burner. This means as here shown consists'of a valve B9 mounted in a portion 0I of the inlet 5 passage 4l and which is automatically opened and closed by means of a iloat 62 within the' casing. The valve 69 is thus .automatically opened and closed in accordance with the opening and closing of the discharge valve to maintain a con- 50 stent oil level in the casing. Preferably, however, means' is provided for manually controlling the valve 58 and also for automatically closing the valve 4upon an undesired accumulation oi' oil in the casing. In the present form of the control 55 unit the upper end of valve I9 is mounted under a lever I3 which is pivoted adjacent one end 64 of the casing and extends transversely across to adjacent an opposite end It oi the casing. where the same is extended through a vertical slot B1 60 to the exterior of the casing, thereby exposing an end portion Il of the lever at the exterior of the casing for manual vertical adjustment in the slot. The lever is normally `held depressed against the valve Il to hold the same in closed 65 dog 12 provided'on the lever and one end 'Il oi *'B 'i0 close the discharge valve I8. The opposite end 82 of the lever 'I3 is extended from the side` wall 66 through the slot 81 directly over the end 88 of the lever 83 for manual rocking of nthe lever to release the lever S3. As here shown, the catch 12 is so curved as to cause an automatic rocking of lever 13 upon raising of lever 88 to engage the lug thereon with the catch so that the lever 83 is set in upper position merely by raising the same to properly engage the catch. In starting of the burner it is necessary to raise the lever 63 in order to open the inlet passage to the casing and allow the valve 58 to be automatically controlled to maintain a constant oil level in the casing for discharge into l"the burner. On the other hand, when the oil i'iow is to be shut off to .the burner, itis desirable to close both the inlet and discharge valves in the valve signed and arranged for operation from the top of the furnace. As here shown the operating' member consists-of a rod 88 which extends vertically through one of the air passages 28 from the grill 26 to the valve casing 88. The lower end of the rod 88 is provided with vertically spaced portions positioned under the lever end 88 40 and over the lever end 82 and as here shown, such portions are formed as the 'bottom and top of an elongated slot 8 8 which is positioned over the levers. 'Ihus upon raising of the rod the lever end 68 will be engaged by the bottom wall of the slot to effect a raising of the lever 88 and an engagement of the catch 12 and opening of the valve 59. On the other hand, upon lowering of the rod the lever end 82 will be engaged by the top wall'of the slot to cause a rocking of the lever 13 and a disengagement of the catch 12 and a release of the lever 83 to effect a closing of valve 59 under the action of spring 88. Preferably, a relatively light spring 81 is mounted on the rod adjacent the lower end thereof and is compressed between a spring rest 88 on the rod and the cover of the valvecasing so as to normally urge the rod to upward position. The action of this spring is not suiliciently'strong to overcome the action of spring 69, but merely assists the manual raising 60 of the rod. The upper end 88 of the rod 88 is slidably engaged in a bracket 8i secured to the grill 26 and preferably, a hinged handle section 92 is pivoted to the rod end 88 for manual engagement. Desirably. the handle section 82 is 6 5 normally seated within a recess I8 provided in the grill so as to position the handle 4below thel top surface of the grill and out of obstructing position. f v The operation of the furnace l as .above explained may besummarized as follows: To start theburner the key Il is placed in engagement with the upper end I8 of 'the control rod Il and` rotated so as to open the discharge valve in the valve casing to cause oil to flow to the heater 78 casing. Also the handle portion 82 of the rod loil therein to displace said second lever and release said first lev'er for closing of said valve 83 is grasped and lifted so as toraise the lever 88 in thevalve caslngto open the oil inlet valve of vthe casing. After opening these two valves a moment is allowed for the koil to ilcwvinto the valve casing, whereupon the lightning rod 8i is li removed and the wick at the lower end thereof Y ignited and replaced in the burner.

In turning the burner ofi. the key 58 is again replaced over theupper end 56 of the rod Il and rotated to close the discharge valve of the valve casing and also l0V I the handle 92 of the rod 88' is'grasped and depressed so as to trip the catch 2 and release the lever 83 for closing of the inlet valve 59 under the action of spring 1|. `The oil ilow is thus shut olf to the burner and burning will cease 15 upon consumption of the oil in the burner.

Iclaim: 'y l. A floor furnace comprising, a heater Acasing adapted for mounting under an opening in a floor or the like, an oil burner mounted under said casing and having a burner throat opening into said casing, oil inlet means for said burner including a valve casing, means for automatically controlling the oil flow into said valve casing in accordance with the discharge of oil therefrom 25 and including a vertically reciprocative valve and float operating mechanism therefor, a lever engageable with said valve and extending to the exterior of said valve casing and movable upward and downward to respectively open and close said valve, spring means normally urging said lever to a lowered position closing said valve, a secondlever'mounted in said valve casing and extending to the exterior thereof directly over said first lever and providing a catch for holding said iirst lever in an elevated position of saidvalvel against the resistance of said spring, a second float mounted in saidV valve casing and operable'upon4 a predetermined accumulation of under the action of said spring, said secondlever being manually operable upon downward displacement at the exterior of said valve casing to release said ilrst lever, and acontrol member extending vertically from said valve casing to above said heater casing for manual operation and being provided at its lower end with an elongated slotted portion engageable with said rst and second levers at the exterior of said valve casing for raising said first lever and depressing said second lever.

2. An operating means vfor the iloat control valve mechanism of an 'oil burner floor furnace wherein the valve mechanism includes 'a casing having' a manually controlled outlet valve and a float controlled inlet valve and a.v pair of external laterally extending vertically spaced levers adapted upon vertical actuation to close or per-V mit opening of said inlet valve by said float and 60 positioned below the iloor lever comprising, a rod, means for supporting said rod in vertical position extendingfrom adjacent said valve mechanism to adjacent theiloor lever, the lower end of said rod being 'formed with portions spaced 65 over and uigder said upper and lower lever respectively rnd adapted upon vertical reciprocation of said rod to engage and depress said upper lever and engage and raise saidy lower lever.

3. An operating means for the frost control valve mechanism of an oil burner iloor furnace whereinthe valve mechanism includes a casing, having a manually controlled outlet valve a float controlled inlet valve and a pair fex.-

ternal laterally vertically spaced levers means for supporting said rod in vertical-position extending from adjacent said valve mechanism to adjacent the oor level, the lower end of said rod being formed with a slot adapted to extend over said levers and having closed ends spaced over and under said upper and lower levers respectively and adapted upon vertical reciprocation of said rod to engage and depress said upper lever and engage and raise said lower lever.

HARRY C. LITTLE. 

